Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray became the first player to win the 3-point shooting contest and skills challenge in the same year on Friday night when she stood out in the competitions held in Phoenix, one night before the WNBA All-Star Game.
Gray took home $115,150 in prize money — $110,000 from Aflac and $5,150 from the WNBA. Insurance company Aflac pledged $55,000 to the winner of each event on Thursday.
That made for a pretty good earnings night for Gray, who has a base salary of $185,000 this season.
Gray scored 22 points in the finals of the 3-point contest. Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty had 21 with her final shot bouncing off the rim.
“I was nervous because she went on a shooting streak,” said Gray, who has made 300 regular-season 3-pointers in her career. “J.J.’s a great 3-point shooter. I even told her before, I was like, ‘I’m familiar with your shooting game. I know you gonna go out there and kill it.’
“But when she got to that last one and the score was kind of close and she missed it, it was like sigh of relief because she’s a great shooter.”
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark declined an invitation to compete in the 3-point contest.
In the skills contest, Gray won with a time of 32.1 seconds, edging Sophie Cunningham (34.5) of the Phoenix Mercury.
Gray, 29, is averaging 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24 games this season, her eighth in the WNBA. She has made 41 3-pointers, including a career-best six against the Las Vegas Aces on May 31.
Indiana’s Erica Wheeler missed the skills competition due to her flight being canceled.
–Field Level Media
